Month: March 2021

Spring Break is just around the corner! With two whole weeks of child-time ahead, having plans in place will make for a stress-free, fun, and memorable break.

Given the circumstances this year, Spring Break will involve more local activities, and what’s more local than your own home? Think of it as your very own homemade Spring Break camp.

Need ideas for home-based activities indoor and outdoor, that don’t include a screen?

Scavenger hunts. As early signs of spring pop up, make some time to discover some of them with your little one. Whether you make a more formal like spring scavenger hunt, a game of eye spy or a casual noticing of the early buds and blossoms, get out there and enjoy the day. For a simple spring scavenger hunt list check out teachingmama.org for a free printable list .  Have fun looking for signs of spring .

Spring foam window murals. Make an open-ended creative play activity on the window, fridge, or in the bath tub, using foam sheets cut into Spring shapes! It’s clean and reusable too? All you need is a packet of craft foam a pair of scissors and some water! Easily stick the pieces to the window by dipping them in a plate of water first.

Broccoli print cherry blossom trees. You need to cut a broccoli stem in half, as straight and evenly as possibly from top to bottom. Dip it into brown paint, lift up and press evenly onto paper to create a perfect tree print! (If you don’t have brown paint mix red, blue and green together.) Now add pink blossoms using finger tips or cotton swabs and dott the blossoms all over the tree branches. For fun effect you can use two shades of pink.

Grass heads. The kids will love to make these Mr. Grass heads and watch them grow! They can also give them haircuts. For instruction video please visit https://www.redtedart.com/kids-crafts-grass-heads/. You will need: old tights/ stockings, some compost or earth, grass seeds, rubber band or thread, for decorating – googly eyes, felt, and a pot for your grass head to sit in!

Rock painting. With warm, sunny days ahead, prepare to beautify your outdoor space with colourful, painted rocks. Decorate rocks with multiple colours, pictures, dates, and kids’ names.

Obstacle course. When designing an obstacle course indoors or outside, it’s all about movement. Crawl under an object, jump over an object, run around an object, slide between objects, and laugh!

Paper airplanes. There are so many ways to craft a super-sleek aircraft. Ramp up the fun by designing a landing strip. Can you fly your plane into a large pot, a large circle cut out of paper on the floor, or through a hula hoop?

Unlimited painter’s tape games. One roll of painter’s tape equals countless activities. Create a long jump “pit” with several spaced-out lines of tape and see how far kids can jump. Perhaps they get further each time they try! Fashion your very own indoor hopscotch court and used rolled up socks or beanbags as markers. Design a racetrack for toy cars, trucks, and trains.

Fashion show. Unleash your child’s inner diva with a raid of home closets and the dress-up box. Suggest categories for outfits such as stylish or silly. Don’t forget the runway, the music, and the flash of the paparazzi taking pictures.

Forts. Go old-school with pillows and blankets or create a full-day activity by picking up a large appliance cardboard box. Cut out a door, a window or two, and provide craft materials including paint, markers, glue, feathers, ribbons, and stickers for kids to make their very own stylish tiny house. Don’t forget to stock the fort with cushions, flashlights, books, and snacks.

Enjoy your time with your family and let me know what your funniest Spring Break adventure was!

• Hands-on activities allow children to use their senses while learning. They see, touch, and move real objects to complete tasks. This means that , shapes, colors, and more are brought to life! Children begin to understand the meaning behind what they are doing.
• Children will strengthen their fine motor development. They learn control, communication, concentration and dedication to finishing tasks and problem solving skills.
• Children get excited and engaged because they are having FUN!
• Hands-on toddler, preschool, and kindergarten activities help children to build a lifelong love of learning!

Hand print: Finger paint with your child on separate pieces of paper. Than create one to display with your handprint next to your child’s handprint. Talk about which hand is bigger? which hand is smaller? Use a sharpie to add some eyes, ears and tail. There you go, you created some great elephants.

For extra fun and learning , you can use  different colours on each hand. After making the handprints to the side of the paper rub the two hands together and print in the middle. See what new colour you made? Ex. Red hand and yellow hand rubbed together makes orange.

Wave your hands: Sung to “Row, row, row Your Boat”

Wave, wave, wave your hands (sing slowly)

As slowly as can be.

Wave your hands, wave your hands,

Wave them now with me.

Wave, wave, wave your hands (sing fast)

As fast as can be.

Wave your hands, wave your hands,

Wave them now with me.

Substitute other words, such as rub, roll, flap, clap for wave.

Mitten mates: Put several pairs of mittens into a box and mix them up. Help your child put on one mitten. can she find its mate? Play the game again, starting with a different mitten.

Open, shut them:

Open, shut them, Open, shut them
Give a little clap, clap, clap!
Open, shut them,
Open, shut them,
Put them in your lap, lap lap.

Creep them crawl them , creep them crawl them
Right up to your chin, chin chin.
Open up your little mouth,
But do not let them in!

Finger foods: Throughout the week, serve finger foods as snack. Your child is sure to enjoy such treats as dry cereal pieces, tiny crackers, fruit and veggie pieces, cheese cubes, or rolled ham .

Click on the blue links to sing the songs with me.